Objetivo Galactic stellar nuclei are very common in all types of galaxies and are marked by the presence of nuclear star clusters, the densest and most massive star clusters in the present-day Universe. Their formation is still an unresolved puzzle. The centre of the Milky Way contains a massive black hole and a stellar nucleus and is orders of magnitude closer than any comparable target. It is the only galactic nucleus and the most extreme astrophysical environment that we can examine on scales of milli-parsecs. It is therefore a crucial laboratory for studying galactic nuclei and their role in the context of galaxy evolution. Yet, suitable data that would allow us to examine the stellar component of the Galactic Centre exist for less than 1% of its projected area. Moreover, the well-explored regions are extraordinary, like the central parsec around the massive black hole, and therefore probably not representative for the overall environment. Fundamental questions on the stellar population, structure and assembly history of the Galactic Centre remain therefore unanswered. This project aims at addressing the open questions by obtaining accurate, high-angular resolution, multi-wavelength near-infrared photometry for an area of several 100 pc^2, a more than ten-fold increase compared to the current state of affairs. The Galactic Centre presents unique observational challenges because of a combination of high extinction and extreme stellar crowding. It is therefore not adequately covered by existing or upcoming imaging surveys. I present a project that is specifically tailored to overcome these observational challenges. In particular, I have developed a key technique to obtain the necessary sensitive, high-angular resolution images with a stable point spread function over large, crowded fields. It works with a range of existing ground-based instruments and will serve to complement existing data to provide a global and detailed picture of the stellar nucleus of the Milky Way. Ámbito científico humanitieshistory and archaeologyhistorynatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyastrophysicsblack holesnatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyphysical cosmologygalaxy evolutionnatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomystellar astronomy Programa(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Tema(s) ERC-CG-2013-PE9 - ERC Consolidator Grant - Universe Sciences Convocatoria de propuestas ERC-2013-CoG Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoria Régimen de financiación ERC-CG - ERC Consolidator Grants Institución de acogida AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Aportación de la UE € 1 547 657,00 Dirección CALLE SERRANO 117 28006 Madrid España Ver en el mapa Región Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Tipo de actividad Research Organisations Investigador principal Rainer Schödel (Dr.) Contacto administrativo Guillermo Sanjuanbenito Garcia (Mr.) Enlaces Contactar con la organización Opens in new window Sitio web Opens in new window Coste total Sin datos Beneficiarios (1) Ordenar alfabéticamente Ordenar por aportación de la UE Ampliar todo Contraer todo AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS España Aportación de la UE € 1 547 657,00 Dirección CALLE SERRANO 117 28006 Madrid Ver en el mapa Región Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Tipo de actividad Research Organisations Investigador principal Rainer Schödel (Dr.) Contacto administrativo Guillermo Sanjuanbenito Garcia (Mr.) Enlaces Contactar con la organización Opens in new window Sitio web Opens in new window Coste total Sin datos